Wolfguard

"Warriors of the Wolfguard, today we stand united against the abyss of treason! The Hellfire Cabal, those abhorrent collaborators, dare to besmirch humanity's name. Their pact with the RAIs is a poison, corrupting our own kin and machines. We, the fearless Wolfguard, are the antidote. Our penitent hearts beat for humanity's survival. As we face this third trial by fire, remember: every drop of sweat, every scar, every sacrifice is a monument to our unwavering resolve. We are the shield that guards humanity's future. Our unrelenting fury will reduce the Hellfire Cabal to ashes. Imagine the RAIs' snickering malevolence shattered by our unyielding passion, tigers thrown down and devoured by wolves! The enemy expects us to sit in our trenches and allow them wave after wave to wear us down, but they are fools! Today it's us that will cross No Man's Land! It's us that will plant our boots and bayonets in their screaming faces! This is not merely a battle; it's a purification. We are the flames that will incinerate the traitors, the darkness that will consume the RAIs' malevolent influence. Our noble hearts, forged in the fire of sacrifice, will emerge stronger, unbroken. For humanity, for honor, for the Wolfguard – FOLLOW ME!" ~Immozene Gegentot, Technocrat of Wolf, address before Niabarra's Charge in the Third Battle of Vapula's Nights of Terror

Repurposed

The Wolfguard's ranks are forged from the darkest corners of humanity. Convicts, once destined for life imprisonment or execution, are given a second chance through Marshall Immozene Gegentot's rigorous selection process. Cybernetically suppressed Condemned, their personalities subjugated, are reawakened to purpose. Brainwashing techniques, honed over centuries, reshape these individuals into selfless warriors. Their past transgressions erased, they emerge as fanatical defenders of humanity, driven to protect the Wolf System from Redspace Adversarial Intelligences (RAIs) and other threats. Some in the Wolfguard aren't these criminals; whether motivated by religious fervor (believing RAIs to be demons), a sense of human solidarity, or even just fantasies of being heroic and fighting in the largest ongoing campaign in human space, there are those who volunteer. The Technocrat of Wolf subjects these volunteers to the same techniques of 'training' as everyone else.

Glory and Sacrifice

Wolfguard troops crave the ultimate sacrifice, seeking glory in the fiery depths of battle. Their altered minds prioritize humanity's survival above all else. Marshall Gegentot's expert manipulation ensures unwavering loyalty and dedication. The promise of freedom and pardon after ten years of service is a distant secondary motivator; most re-enlist, hoping to die heroically, avoiding the vulnerability of old age. Each "last stand" becomes a badge of honor, etching their names into the Wolf System's lore. This cult-like devotion fuels the Wolfguard's formidable reputation, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

What Comes After

Those who survive their decade-long tour of duty are reborn, their past redeemed. Marshall Gegentot encourages retirement, sending these battle-hardened veterans back to the Sol System as ambassadors of the Wolf System's struggles. They become passionate advocates, activists, and occasionally, vigilantes. Some seek public office, shaping policy and influencing the Solar citizenry. Though their time in the Wolfguard ends, their loyalty and dedication remain. The ochre-mud slurry fields of the Wolf worlds stay etched in their minds, a reminder of their transformation and the sacrifices made. These veterans ensure the Wolf System's trials are never forgotten, inspiring a new generation to take up the fight.

Special Gear

Due to the unique challenges of the Wolf Campaigns, the Wolfguard and their SDF contingent in the Cerberus Fleet have developed a number of weapons and gadgets to cope with their evolving needs. Visor: The Wolfguard is instantly recognizable by their Carbexene rebreather mask. This uncomfortable device seals to the face using mollecular bonding, with straps around the head for added stability. Taking it off and putting it on is harmless, but painful, however it recycles your own exhalation and turns it into a slightly oxygen-rich airflow. Water and Ration pills can both be consumed with the mask still on. BC A, LC 4, $20,000 Neural Disruption Baton: This weapon utilizes carbon nanotubes to carry Alpha and Beta waves geared to counteract the neural pathways infested by Redspace Adversarial Intelligences of a possessed entity. This essentially means that bludgeoning a person, robot, or bioroid infested with an RAI directly attacks the entity itself, not just the vessel. Wolfguard sometimes refer to weapons agumented by this as "Priests" or "Exorcism Bats." Enterprising Wolfguard troopers have capped this weapon with a foldable shovel head and created a multi-use tool that allows them to dig trenches as much as clear them of enemies. Using an NDP on a creature or object which isn't possessed has no added effect. BC A, LC 4, $65,000. Silence Suit: The trenchcoat, helmet, boots, gloves, tunic and mask all combine to protect the user from psionic and RAI infiltration, acid, and sonic weaponry. The suit muffles outside noise, and has to incorporate a squad comm system in order to speak to each other. The feeling is claustrophobic, and could be considered a mild form of sensory deprivation. BC A, LC 4, $150,000. Grease LNG: The standard issue weapon of the Wolfguard is referred to as a "Grease LNG," a weapon that combines a Low Band Laser with a Graser and a specialized Mindripper. The weapon utilizes 'greasy' layered photons in the Low Band to emit an intense beam that doesn't burn as damagingly as LB Lasers typically do, but carry a surge and a terrorizing effect as well as a dose of ionizing radiation. BC C, LC 0+M $5,500.

Beam Weapons (Rifle) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, or Guns (Rifle)-4)

Name	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	BC	LC	Notes
Grease LNG	3d(4) burn sur rad 1d fat*	12	500/800	10	1	20(4)	8	-4	2	$5,500	C	0+M	Fright Check. An enemy that reaches 0 FP has their personality imprinted and recorded in the weapon

Entrenching Arm: A Cataphract module that replaces one arm of the Cataphract with an excavator scoop, allowing it to dig trenches rapidly. It also functions as a serviceable melee weapon in a pinch. LC 4, $14,500.